Declining Productivity?

Average weekly hours worked across the US have declined gradually, from 44.1 hours in 2019 to 42.9 hours through 2024. That is a full week of work lost during a year; and for younger workers (under age 35), the figure is closer to two weeks per year. As with any human problem, this is multifaceted. Mental, emotional and spiritual fatigue combine with physical fatigue to have an overall effect of burnout on workers. On top of that, workers are less engaged. There is no magic bullet, but effective communication to and with (not at!) employees about the purpose of the business, the “what and why” behind it, and their importance to it and role within it are all factors that may help to rekindle a missing spark. An important part of that is listening to employees as well, helping them to understand that they are an important part of the company, and reinforcing their importance to the organization.